When you tell me your GoPro costs $700 ($600 for GoPro subscribers), you need to give me more than just another action camera. Unfortunately, for the brand that started the idea of mountable, rugged fixed-lens cameras, the Mission 1 Pro is still just another GoPro.
From the get-go, GoPro positioned the Mission 1 Pro as not just a larger alternative to a Hero 13 Black, but a “compact cinematic camera system,” promising to be an alternative to some less-durable, professional-ready cameras, like a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. I have no doubt a high-end videographer may have use for the Mission 1 Pro, but if you’re only flooding your Instagram feed with your latest snowboarding adventure, do you really need one that’s “pro”-level? Probably not. 4 GoPro Mission 1 Pro The Mission 1 Pro takes the best footage of any action camera currently available. It's just not a perfect camera otherwise. Pros Excellent action camera video quality A bevy of slow-mo modes Easy "open gate" shooting options Solid battery life Cons RAW photos limited to wide Slow photo processing Pricey for an action camera That being said, is the Mission 1 Pro a good GoPro? Oh, hell yes it is. It’s easily the best action camera experience I’ve had—which it should, considering it costs close to $300 more than a DJI Osmo Action 6 or a Hero 13 Black. You just won’t use it for anything that you’re not already using your old GoPro Hero for. One day, our action cameras may be good enough that I can leave my other shooters at home, but today is not that day. Mission 1 Pro basics The 1-inch sensor allows for more shooting options than on previous GoPro action cameras. © Raymond Wong / Gizmodo GoPro is emphasizing the “pro” in the Mission 1 Pro’s name. It’s bigger, though not much heavier than a previous Hero Black 13 at 207g (0.45 pounds) compared to 157g (0.34 pounds). Does that make much of a difference when carrying it around? Not really. The weight is an acceptable compromise when it has features like a 2.59-inch rear OLED touchscreen, a 1.4-inch LCD front display, and improved shooting capabilities.
